[Sensitization to polyethylene glycol and polysorbate in allergic patients with systemic adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of sensitization to polyethylene glycol and polysorbate in allergic patients with a complete vaccination schedule against COVID-19 who presented systemic adverse reactions.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational and prolective study. Allergic patients between 18 and 60 years old, with complete vaccination schedule against COVID-19, with systemic adverse reactions were included. Skin tests were performed with polyethylene glycol 2000 and PS 80. The results were analyzed by calculating averages, percentages and frequencies.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients were included, 74.5% were women, average age was 31.4 (SD 11.6), the most prevalent allergologic diagnosis was allergic rhinitis, adverse reactions after vaccination were late in 54 patients, with myalgias being the most common. Sensitization was found in 40%, of these 32.7% were positive to polysorbate 80. The vaccines with the highest prevalence of sensitization were AstraZeneca and Sputnik. Adverse reactions during skin testing occurred in 5 patients and the most frequent adverse event was headache.

CONCLUSIONS

A high frequency of sensitization to polyethylene glycol 2000 and polysorbate 80 was found. In sensitized patients, alternatives with vaccines that do not contain the excipients to which they were positive can be recommended to avoid the risk of subsequent adverse events.